Coach Yo Looks at Rebels’ 80-70 loss to Oklahoma: ‘We have a lot we can grow from this and I would rather learn this stuff now than later’
Oxford, Miss. – No. 12 Ole Miss women’s basketball fell to the No. 23 Oklahoma Sooners, 80-70, on Thursday night inside the SJB Pavilion.
Ole Miss (1-1, 0-0 SEC) head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin met with the media after the game and discussed her team’s play.
“Credit to Oklahoma exactly what I expected them to be…tough, gritty and I just felt that they showed that for forty minutes. I was really disappointed with our defensive presence. Seventy points should be more than enough to win a basketball game.”
Ole Miss head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin on loss to Oklahoma
The Rebels were led in scoring by Snudda Collins with 15 points. A total of five players reached double figures in scoring: KK Deans (12), Marquesha Davis (11), Kennedy Todd-Williams (13) and Kharyssa Richardson (10).
“When you play a team like Oklahoma that averages in the nineties,” McPhee-McCuin said. “You got to strap up and defend. I thought that they took advantage of our size, and we didn’t follow the game plan like we should.”
McPhee-McCuin added that this was only game two of the seasons for the Rebels and was not sure what it meant if they won or lost.
“It’s like a chance to see where we are and where we need to be. I am not pressing the panic button or anything. This was great for us to get out and see a lot of teams that are serious about finding out about their teams. They play competition early and that is what we did. We have a lot we can grow from this and I would rather learn this stuff now than later.”
Coach Yo on the loss to Oklahoma
Just two games into the season, Ole Miss faced adversity and Coach Yo said she was was curious to see how her team would respond.
“I don’t know that I was surprised. I just didn’t know because it’s been smooth sailing since Europe,” McPhee-McCuin said. “No matter what we have been telling them, things have been working out. I scheduled this game right now because we needed to be exposed…either we were going to rise to the occasion or do what we did tonight.”
McPhee-McCuin added that she was learning about her team during the game.
“I don’t want to take anything from Oklahoma. I thought they came in and really played hard every minute of the game. They are a hard team to defend. Just because of how they play with a lot of movement, and you can’t take a break. I thought when we got in foul trouble that kind of hurt us as far as rotation. I wasn’t impressed by my bench. I learned a lot about my team in situations like this and I’m actually grateful for it.“
Coach Yo on the loss
Next Up
The Rebels will continue their season next Wednesday, November 15, in the SJB Pavilion when the Temple Owls come to Oxford. Tip is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT and will air on SEC Network +.
Adam Brown
Adam Brown joins The Rebel Walk as the Managing Editor after being on the Ole Miss beat as a Sports Editor for over 11 years. He is a lifelong Oxford resident. Brown graduated from the University of Mississippi with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.
Prior to The Rebel Walk, Brown was the sports editor of HottyToddy.com covering every Ole Miss sport and local high school sports in the community.
